Hyperacusis - Sensitivity To Noise

Hyperacusis is a bothersome condition related to and often
accompanied by tinnitus--ringing in the ears. Hyperacusis is also
generally misunderstood by lay people and physicians alike. It is often
described as sensitivity to sound, or noise sensitivity. It literally
means super hearing--perceiving sound as louder than it is. It
represents a reduction in your threshold of comfort for sound, and is
caused by an alteration in a sound-processing system in your brain.
Sometimes referred to as sensitive ears or tender ears, hyperacusis
actually originates in the brain rather than in the ears. Perhaps the
biggest problem sufferers experience is fear of sound--fear that loud
sounds will permanently damage their hearing. Examples of sounds that
may be painful to their ears include an acoustic guitar, a passing truck
on a city street, clanging dishes in a noisy restaurant, or booming
sounds in a movie theater. Even individuals who habitually speak loudly,
or who raise their voices to be heard in a noisy environment, such as a
busy restaurant, or at a party. The natural tendency is to seek
silence-sweet, comfortable silence. And what is the worst possible thing
for these people? Sweet, comfortable silence.

Nerve
cells in the brain need sound in order to function normally. They don't
do well when idle, so if there's no sound to hear, they recall earlier
sounds and then attempt (poorly) to duplicate them-this causes tinnitus,
a frequent companion of hyperacusis. Like many sensory sensations,
sound is interpreted in relation to other sounds. If you've just
listened to a loud recording or a fireworks display and somebody walks
past whistling a tune, you probably won't hear the whistling at all. But
if you awaken from a deep sleep in a silent room in the middle of the
night, and the same whistler walks past your open window, it seems so
loud that you could hear it from across the block. Why does that happen?
Because a low level of sound results in an increased sensitivity of
hearing. For example, when you wear ear plugs to block out most sound,
your hearing system becomes super attentive, literally searching for
sound. Whatever gets through seems far louder than it actually is.
Conversely, if you keep some background sound around you at all times,
such as a radio or CD playing, or a waterfall or fountain, other sounds
will not seem nearly as loud or uncomfortable. The hearing system
thrives best when performing its basic function of receiving external
sounds. Sounds of 75 or 80 dB that seem dangerously loud or
uncomfortable when you have hyperacusis will not damage your ears.
Prolonged or repeated exposure to noise levels above 85dB will harm
anybody's hearing, and levels above 140dB may cause permanent damage
with a single exposure.

As with tinnitus,
affected individuals must undergo a through examination by a qualified
Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.) Once this exam is
completed, many of the same therapies can be used that have proven
effective for tinnitus. Medication is rarely necessary, but Anxiety
Relief Techniques® can be very effective. Remember to perfuse your
environment with sound because a sound-rich background is essential.
Play a radio, CDs, listen to music or conversation on TV, or even
purchase a re-circulating fountain. It doesn't have to be loud, just a
comfortable level. It is always a good idea to protect your ears with
quality earplugs from really loud or painful sounds, but remove earplugs
for normal everyday activities and noises. Gradually increase the
amount and level of sound around you and see how quickly you'll improve.
The biggest relief generally comes when you know that 1) there is
nothing physically wrong with your ears, 2) normal sounds will not
damage your hearing, and 3) you have nothing to fear from this sound
sensitivity.